How Would You Improve Loop 360? TxDOT Wants To Know

This map shows the areas of Loop 360 that would be affected by any changes.

As many commuters know well, traffic can be miserable in Austin. In 2010 INRIX, a traffic and congestion software research company, ranked the Austin metro area 26th for worst congestion nation-wide. Here is one commuter's video of sitting in traffic on Texas State Highway Loop 360:

A spokesman for the department says that at this point the city is not looking to acquire any right-of-way permits. This means that 360 will not be adding lanes, or displacing any pre-existing homes or businesses.

Because the highway can't be widened, TxDOT is looking into "innovative intersection improvements" to help with congestion. This complicated-sounding term boils down to changes in protected left hand turns.

Proposed improvements include instituting 'Michigan lefts' or 'jughandles.' Priority would be given to drivers on 360. Drivers wanting to make a left-hand turn from a side street would need to take a right, drive down to the nearest cross-over, and then turn left.

TxDOT is still in the conceptualizing stage and won't finalize any plans until next year. They are looking for public input both at tonight's open house, and in written form.

The commission and TxDOT have attempted to justify the large salary increases as part of an initiative to revitalize the giant agency by attracting new talent from the private sector.

We combed The Texas Tribune'sgovernment employee salary database to see how the salaries of the new TxDOT positions compare to salaries of similar positions at other public entities. The Tribune’s database includes information from 140 public agencies and offices (click here for information on which entities were added in the latest update).